Chivas climbs to Fourth in West

Published on August 24, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


On a warm, clear night in Carson, Chivas USA and the San Jose Earthquakes battled to a 0-0 tie in front of 12,209 fans at The Home Depot Center.

The draw gives each team a point, and moves the Red-and-White (6-9-6, W-L-T) into fourth place in the Western Conference, tied on 24 points with the LA Galaxy and the Colorado Rapids. The Earthquakes (5-9-7) remain two points back of Chivas USA in seventh place in the West.

Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton, making his fifth start for the club, earned his first shutout with his new team, making three saves to preserve the clean sheet. His diving stop on a Ronnie O'Brien shot in the 85th minute ensured a point for the Red-and-White.

A new-look line-up for Chivas USA featured Jonathan Bornstein playing on the right side of defense for the first time since last season, and gave midfielder Jorge Flores his first start since June 5 against the New York Red Bulls. Right midfielder Kraig Chiles made his second start of the season, and Sacha Kljestan returned from the Olympics and National Team duty to play 90 minutes in the center of the midfield, his first match with the team since July 20 in the SuperLiga and his first time wearing the captain's armband for Chivas USA.

Two forwards also returned from injury to play a part for the Red-and-White, as Ante Razov made his first appearance in more than a month, playing 90 minutes, and Alecko Eskandarian (sports hernia surgery, June 18) entered the match as a substitute in the 59th minute, and came close to scoring his second goal of the season.

Chivas USA was without six players due to injury: Justin Braun (R ankle sprain), Maykel Galindo (sports hernia surgery), Jesse Marsch (fractured jaw), Carey Talley (L thigh strain), Raphaël Wicky (R ankle surgery), and Alex Zotinca (R knee surgery).

Chivas USA Head Coach Preki, on tonight's match: "[For] the first 15 to 20 minutes of the first half we weren't really sure of ourselves because of so many changes [but then] I thought we did pretty good. We tried to push forward, we tried to get a goal. I think we did everything but get a goal, and I'm disappointed that we didn't get three points. I thought we were the better team on the night." (For a full quote sheet, please visit www.cdchivasusa.com.)

The team will depart LAX at 8:00 a.m. PT Sunday morning for Panama City, where the Red-and-White will play the first match of their 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League campaign. Chivas USA will square off against Tauro F.C. of Panama on Tuesday night at 5:00 p.m. PT, broadcast live on Galavision. The Red-and-White will host Tauro F.C. a week later, on Sept. 2, at The Home Depot Center; parking for that match is free, and tickets can be purchased by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1, or visiting www.cdchivasusa.com.

Media members with season credentials from Chivas USA will be automatically given credentials for the CONCACAF Champions League, and can be picked up starting at the team's next home match on Aug. 30.

The Red-and-White will host Toronto F.C. next Saturday, Aug. 30, as the team continues to fight for a spot in the playoffs. Fans in attendance will receive free Rally Towels, courtesy of Gatorade, while supplies last. Tickets for the match can be purchased at www.cdchivasusa.com, or by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 24, 2008


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